Liberal Democrat candidate reveals he 'deliberately' contracted HIV following years of homophobic abuse
Adrian Hyyrylainen-Trett, 36, suffered physical and psychological bullying at school for being gay
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A Liberal Democrat has become Britain’s first HIV-positive parliamentary candidate after telling how he "deliberately" contracted the virus after years of homophobic bullying.
Adrian Hyyrylainen-Trett, 36, suffered physical and psychological bullying at school for being gay.
In an interview with Buzzfeed's LGBT editor Patrick Strudwick, the Lib Dem candidate for Vauxhall in south London explained why he chose to speak out.
Hyyrylainen-Trett said he believed he "owed it" to the community to discuss the issues he went through and help others who were experiencing the same problems.
"With psychological bullying all you have is the words whirling around your head – comments thrown at you in the sports room, in the gym, walking home from school."
Hyyrylainen-Trett said bullying led him to into a spiral of drugs, depression and suicidal thoughts, before he decided that HIV might be "one way" to take his own life.
"I didn’t really want HIV," he said. "I wanted annihilation of me."
His diagnosis in 2004 was cited as a "consequence of bullying, mental ill health and low self-esteem".
Hyyrlyainen-Trett has since called for more education in schools and the workplace about HIV to reduce stigma of the virus and raise awareness in young people, many of whom he says are "completely unaware".
To contact the Samaritans, call 08457 90 90 90 or email jo@samaritans.org. For Mind, contact 0300 123 3393
The Independent has got together with May2015.com to produce a poll of polls that produces the most up-to-date data in as close to real time as possible.
Click the buttons below to explore how the main parties' fortunes have changed:
All data, polls and graphics are courtesy of May2015.com. Click through for daily analysis, in-depth features and all the data you need. (All historical data used is provided by UK Polling Report)